Thursday’s holiday roundup

Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas is nearly a month away, but Downtown Davis has plenty of activities planned tonight for those of you still in the holiday spirit. Here are some of the highlights:

Davis Holiday Parade — Davis residents can head downtown to see the city’s holiday parade in addition to a festive tree lighting. These events will take place in the E Street Plaza starting at 6 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there to receive guests from 6:40 p.m. until 8:15 p.m. Other lively holiday characters are slated to show up as well.

Film Screening — Varsity Theatre, located at 616 Second St., will be holding free screenings of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The film is scheduled to play at 6 p.m., 6:40 p.m., 7:20 p.m., and 8 p.m. Those in the mood for some music can listen to the Grace Valley Choir, which will be performing outside the theater all evening.

Carriage Rides — John Brinley Properties is sponsoring free horse-drawn carriage rides throughout the evening. The carriages will depart every 10 minutes from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in front of the curb of Avid Reader at 605 Second St.

Downtown Window Decorating Contest — This contest, which features 16 Davis businesses competing for the best-decorated window of the holiday season, begins tonight. In the following two weeks patrons can cast their votes for their personal favorites online. Further information can be found on Davis Downtown’s official website.